Dublin Warehouse Transforms Into a Member Club for Makers

Mabos is the name of a warehouse in Dublin's docklands area, that has been turned into a very special location for all kinds of urban niche activities. We spoke with initiator Dave Smith about his idea behind this multi-functional maker space, which hosts a wide variety of events ranging from women-only skateboarding events to robotic workshops, do-it-yourself furniture making classes and late-night BYOB parties.

Apart from the program and raw urban warehouse setting one very interesting thing about Mabos is the fact that it’s a member club that asks its visitors to behave well. This contrasts somehow with the raw, concrete, and hands-on atmosphere of the club, but helps keeping things going smoothly. Everyone who comes in, also on club nights, gets a mini-tour by Dave himself or one of his associates. They explain about the place and its activities, but also kindly ask people to recycle their beer bottles. This personal approach helps people to act responsibly, and not make a mess.

Mabos

The warehouse is located in Dublin’s Grand Canal Docks area, a characteristic docklands regeneration project that lacks a sense of place, just like all those other regenerated harbor areas in Western European cities. These really are the last series of urban projects rolled out before the crisis hit the European property market, some four years ago. The architecture is solid, it’s always windy, green is placed in pots, and public space is not designed as a place to hang out. Within this urban context some smaller lots haven’t been developed yet, and that’s not likely to happen in the near future. Here people can do what these kind of areas lack the most — unexpected things.

Mabos
Mabos

Being with only a small group of people, and not making real money out of it, Mabos offers one real big thing to this area. They radiate personal care about the public space and are willing to make the place better. Essentially they do not only consume the area, but help producing it, although hardly recognized by the local authorities. Smith and his team have to conquer formal authorities consequently, and come up with all kinds of ideas that make it possible to execute their activities within the contrains of the Irish law.

Mabos

It’s local policy that has forced Mabos to become a members-only club, where visitors have to purchase a member pass that gives them access to a week of activities. In member clubs the rules are different. Mabos has no permit to sell alcohol — an issue that is tackled by organizing bring-your-own-booze parties. Everyone walks in with a bag full of bottles and consumes them inside. Soft drinks to mix are provided by the hosts. In general these BYOB parties seem to be a widespread phenomenon in Dublin. Even commercial places like lunch bars without a permit to sell alcohol advertise with ‘BYOB!’ on the windows. The strict regulation on the one hand, and the economic crisis on the other hand, have catalyzed this phenomenon.

PUC × Pivot Dublin

In April 2013, Pivot Dublin invited us to spend two weeks in the Irish capital. We hopped from district to district to fully experience, explore and report trends, stories and ideas right from Dublin’s vibrant design community.

Building Cities on Philanthropy

The City of Dublin has launched plans for a new central City Library at Parnell Square. This new 21st century cultural hotspot will help launch the northern part of Dublin’s downtown as a new cultural quarter. In times of financial crisis it's hard to find money for new public buildings, particularly in the cultural scene and in a city like Dublin. What’s interesting about this project, initiated by Dublin's City Architect Ali Grehan, is that it is financially made possible by a group of philanthropists. They will pay to make the plans and have committed to raise funding for the execution of the whole project. Peter Collins is Managing Director at Kennedy Wilson Europe. He represents the group of philanthropists that will pay for the massive building. We spoke to him about the library and asked him about philanthropy in urbanism.

Dublin Adopts Urban Hacking as a City-Making Tool

During our two-week Blogger in Residency in Dublin earlier this month we discovered quite an innovative approach to urban planning and development that other cities around the globe could learn from. Several departments within the Irish capital's City Council have adopted urban hacking and interventionism tactics as serious tools to improve public spaces.

Modular Urban Rooftop Farm Uses Only Recycled Materials

On top of the roof of the Chocolate Factory in Dublin, a remarkable rooftop farm is being planted. Following the example of other great urban rooftop farms around the world, the Chocolate Factory farm is completely modular, made from only recycled materials, and is based on the concept of composting. This way, the small scale farm that looks out over the city of Dublin integrates an entire food system, from waste to food, on one roof.